Status as of November 2026
Georgia program status board
A calm look at where Georgia homebuyer help stands today. Of the 24 programs we follow, here is the count by status, the ones whose budgets are thin, and the biggest awards you can still apply for.
The biggest awards you can still apply for
| Program | Where | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| DreamMaker Home Purchase Assistance | City of Savannah | Up to $50,000 (housing developed in partnership with the City) or up to $30,000 (all other housing) for down payment, closing costs and/or gap financing |
| Sweet Home Columbus DPA | Columbus-Muscogee County | Up to $49,999, all of it toward the down payment |
| Atlanta Beltline Mortgage Assistance Program | City of Atlanta - Beltline Tax Allocation District subareas 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 and 10 (south and west sides) | Up to $30,000 (civil servants and legacy residents) or up to $20,000 (other qualified buyers); usable for down payment, closing costs, permanent rate buydown, principal reduction |
| Atlanta Beltline Mortgage Assistance - civil servant tier | City of Atlanta Beltline TAD subareas 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10 | Up to $30,000 (vs. $20,000 for other buyers) |
| Fulton Homeownership Program (HOP) | Fulton County (areas served by Fulton County's HUD grant; exact participating cities not published) | Up to $22,500 based on need (web page says up to 7.5% of sales price, capped at $22,500), for down payment, closing costs and/or rate buydown |
| ATL HomeNOW | City of Atlanta | Up to $20,000 for down payment, closing costs and/or permanent rate reduction |
| Perry Bolton Mortgage Assistance Program | City of Atlanta - Perry Bolton Tax Allocation District | $20,000 (income at or below 80% AMI buying a permanently affordable home) or $10,000 (up to 120% AMI, home not permanently affordable) |
| Vine City Renaissance Initiative (VCRI) | City of Atlanta - Vine City (Hollowell Pkwy N, Northside Dr E, MLK Jr Dr S, Joseph E. Lowery Blvd W) | $20,000 toward down payment and/or closing costs |
Ranked from the largest published dollar amount down. Where help is a percentage of the price, a more expensive home can mean a bigger award.
Not taking buyers right now, or close to it
You may not be able to apply to these today. If one interests you, we can send word when it opens back up.
| Program | Where it stands | |
|---|---|---|
| WE DeKalb Down Payment Assistance Program | Paused | |
| DeKalb HomeStart Program | Money is limited | |
| DeKalb County First-Time Homebuyers Program (HOME) | Money is limited | |
| Athens Housing Authority Down Payment Assistance / ACT I Homes | Waitlist | |
| DeKalb HomeStart - first responder/public servant enhancement | Money is limited |
The kinds of help on offer
| Kind of help | How many programs |
|---|---|
| Forgivable loan | 12 |
| Deferred loan, due when you sell or refinance | 6 |
| Grant, nothing to repay | 4 |
| Other | 1 |
In Georgia, most of this help comes as a loan rather than a gift. Forgivable help melts away once you have stayed put for the required number of years. Deferred help sits quietly until a sale or refinance, and then it is due. Work out what you might owe if you leave early.
Not sure which ones are for you?
The program matcher sorts these by your county and your job, and a lender can confirm the rest. It's free, and your credit won't be pulled.
